Voting machine



Nov. 28, 1944. A. N. GUsTAvsoN 2,363,729

- VOTING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG-5 g NOV. 28, 1944. A, N, GUSTAVSON 2,363,729

VOTING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1946 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Nov. 28, 1944 VOTING MACHINE l Alvin N. Gustavson, Jamestown, N. Y., assignor to Automatic Voting Machine Corporation,

.IamestoWn,.N. Y., a corporation of Delaware lApplication April 5, 1940, Serial .'No. 328,060

Claims.

' This invention relates to `an improvement in voting machines and more particularly to a mechanism for nullifying improperly cast ballots.

In elections for representatives to general assembly, krepresentatives to conventions, or other oil'lce groups, lthere are more candidates seeking nomination or election than there `are oiiices to be filled. It has 'been lfound that a minority group of voters, by Drearrangement, could in part 4at least defeat vthe purposes of an election pertaining to oflicejgroups by casting ballots for a lesser number of candidates than the number of ofiices in a vgiven oiilce group, and laws have, therefore, been enacted tov prevent such practice. These laws state Ain substance that, that portion of a voters 'ballotrelating to oice group elections -is `invalid if 'he yhas failed to indicate his preference for the same number of candidates as there .are oices in a Vgiven group. Voting machines have, therefore, been so arranged that a voter could not register his ballot without rst complying with the/above mentioned laws. In some elections there are candidates seeking nomination or election to otherfoffices as well as those of an .o iice group, and a voter, having ,properly indicated .his ballot with respect to these, would thus be .prevented registering arly part thereof if .he fails .to `comply with the requirements in iconnection with balloting for candidates in Janofiice group.

.It is the `purpose of .the .present invention to provide a :mechanism tor a voting vmachine that will nullify all improperly cast ballots, includ# .ing those for candidates in one or more oflice groups, without affecting the 'voters ballot with respect to other candidates, and this therefore constitutes one of the objects .of the invention.

, Another 'object vof the invention lies in the provision of .a mechanism for a voting machine that serves to return certain :candidate indicators to vnon-voting position during the operation of registering other indicated votes.

Y `Another object of the linvention lies 'in the provision of a .mechanism that operates to prevent a 'voter 'from retracting a properly indicated ballot at any time during the operation of registering the ballot and returning the indicators to non-voting position.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of 'a lmechanism for a voting machine that is operable to return certain of `the voting indicators to non-voting position at `commencement ofthe registering operation, when a voter has failed to comply with such voting requirements as the mechanism is capable of vcontrolling.

Other and 'further objects ofthe invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the' following specification 'taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in which Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective view taken from the rear of a voting machine-disclosing one form of the 'invention and its operative connection with a vote registering lever; l

Figure 2 is an enlarged rear .elevational view of the invention as applied to a voting machine and shows 'the position assumed -by the movable parts when the vote registering lever 'is in the position shown in full lines in Figure l;

'Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the structure shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a substantially full size end view ofthe invention as applied to the main interlock of a voting machine, being taken substantially as indicated at -4-'4 fof Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the structure that 'serves to actuate 'the invention, showing 'the position of the parts when the vote registering lever is near the dotted line vposition 'of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a view of the mechanism similar to that of Figure '4 'and 'shows the ,position assumed by the movable parts during'the period `of registering a properly cast ballot;

Figure 7 is a further end view of the mechanism showing the position of the parts during the `operation -of retracting improperly cast ballots;

Figure I8 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the position of certain of the parts when a voter has Icomplied with the requirements concerning balloting in a given koflice group; and

Figure 9 illustrates the method of assembling certain parts ofthe mechanism.

It will be understood that the present invention is directed generally tothe subject Inatter of my co-pending application, Serial No.

` 302,575, being a continuation in part thereof to alter his choice until such time as he desires to register'his ballot and leave the voting machine. The mechanism additionally provides means for preventing a voter, who has complied with the office group requirements, from retracting part of his ballot once he has commenced movement of the operating lever through the ballot registering and indicator returning cycle.

Reference is now had particularly to Figure 2 of the drawings wherein the numeral I6 is employed to generally designate the invention which, in its present form, includes an interlock II that, as shown in Figure 4, is auxiliary to a main interlock I2. The interlock II comprises a pair of spaced vertical plates I3 and I4 that are suitably connected by spacer blocks I6. Projecting vertically through the blocks I6 are rods I1, to the lower ends of which are iitted bases I8. A spring I9, encircling each rod I1 between blocks I6 and base I8, serves to yieldingly extend the rod to a limit determined by a pin 2|. Adjacent theends of plate I4 are laterally projecting lugs 22 having upwardly opening slots 23 that engage the under edge of the front plate of the main interlock I2. The structure described serves to mount the interlock I I at any desired position along the length of the main interlock I2.

The interlock II is of a form similar to that shown and described in my Patent 2,110,297 and includes rollers 24, the enlarged ends of which are seated in channels 26 of the plates I3 and I4. At one end of the interlock II is a shoe 21, the sides of which are located in the channels 26. A grouping pin 28 may be projected through a pair of aligned openings 29 in the plates I3 and I4, as well as a specially designed apertured roller 36 for the purpose kof preventing movement of a predetermined group of rollers 24 in a direction other than toward the shoe 21 (see Figure 8).

Projecting away from the plate I3 are pins 38 that may be tted with spacer collars or washers 3|. A member 32 is adapted to be mounted on the plate I3. This member is formed with det pending arms 33 and 33a centrally of which are rectangular slots 34. The lower ends 35 of these arms are bent inwardly in a manner substantially as indicated in the drawings and compensate for the thickness of washers 3I. The arm 33a, is formed with a shoulder 36. Between arms 33 and 33a. and also forming a, part of member 32 is an arm 31 that is of a length and position corresponding to the shoulder 36, being adjacent the other end of the mechanism. A pair of'lugs 38 project outwardly from the plate I 3 of the interlock. The pins 38 project through the slots 34 and are of a diameter substantially half the width of the slots. Any conventional means, such as washers and cotter pins, serve to loosely mount the member 32 on pins 30 for movement thereof to the extent limited by the size of slots 34. Generally centrally of the member 32 is a depending strap 39 that is formed at its lower end with a horizontally disposed lug 40. This lug projects through a slot 4I in the lower edge of plate I3, the relative width of lug and slot being comparable to that of pin 36 and slot 34. On the inner face of the plate I4 is a pin 42. A spring 43 is secured at its ends to lug 40 and pin 42, the position of the spring being such that it normally urges the member 32 slightly upwardly to the right, as viewed in Figure 2 of the drawings. It is to be noted that movement of the member 32 to the left causes the lower edge of arm 31 and shoulder 36 to overlie lugs 38 when said member is in its uppermost position and, under such circumstances, said member cannot -be depressed.

For convenience of assembly the member 32 is in two parts and includes a bar 44 that is formed with vertical and horizontal flanges 45 and 46. This bar is adapted to be mounted on and secured to the member 32 in any suitable manner. Two or more rotatable pins 41 are mounted on the outer face of the body of the member 32 and are formed with narrow heads. Openings 48 are made in the flange 45 of bar 44 and are of a shape to receive the heads of the pins 41. When the pins have been projected through the openings they may be rotated to assume a position at right angles to the openings 48 and thus securethe bar to the member. Adjacent the ends of the bar 44 laterally directed lugs 49 are provided. Adjacent lugs 49 are-cams 50. The purpose of the lugs and cams 49 and 59 will hereinafter be more fully set forth. At one end of the member 32, optionally integral therewith or with bar 44, is a horizontal flange 5I that terminates in a depending strap 52. The strap 52 projects into the open end 53 of the shoe 21.

It is common practice in interlocks, such as indicated by the numeral I2, to provide a number of straps 54 having enlarged ends 55 that project between pairs of rollers 51. These straps include lugs 58 to which the upper ends of auxiliary straps 6I may be attached. The auxiliary straps 6I are formed at their lower ends with enlarged portions 62 that project between pairs of rollers 26. A short space above the end 62 each strap is formed with a laterally directed lug 63, the lower edge of which may be slightly beveled. Spaced slightly above the lug 63 is a pointed lug 64 that is provided with a small at shoulder 65. When the interlock I I is assembled both lugs 63 and 64 are beneath the ange 46 of bar 44, substantially as indicated in Figure 4 of the drawings.

, While' it is unnecessary to describe the operation and parts of interlocks to which the present invention is applicable, it is pointed out that each strap 6I is connected with a Voting indicator on the face of the voting machine through a strap 54, or in any other suitable maner, and that when an indicator is operated the corresponding auxiliary strap 6I is moved upwardly separating a pair of rollers 24 as the enlarged portion 62 projects between said rollers. This lateral displacement of the rollers can be only in the direction of shoe 21, since grouping pin 28 prevents movement in the opposite direction (see Figure 8).

Secured to the frame of the voting machine and located adjacent one end of the auxiliary interlock II is an upstanding bracket 66. A laterally directed arm 61 mounts one end of a shaft 6B that, as indicated in the drawings, parallels the interlock I I. This shaft may extend the full length of the machine and be supported at the other end by a further arm, not shown. In the present disclosure of the invention two arms 69 are mounted on the shaft 68. These arms extend laterally toward and into close proximity with the flange 45 of bar 44. Each arm includes an upper portion 10 and a downwardly offset finger 1I. The finger is bent to be slightly out of vertical alignment with the portion 16. A pin on the portion l0 mounts a roller 12. The arms 69, of which there are as many as may be required for lugs 49, are clamped to the shaft 68 in any suitable manner and are adjustable along the shaft to be aligned with the lugs 49 at Whatever position the interlock Il may :be mounted on :the main :interlock L2.

Adjacent the supporting varms 161 the shaft 68 carries a further arm 13 that is pivotaliy `joined to one lend of- `a twist iink 1:4. The other end yof this link is ,pivotally oined .to an varm 16 of a bell crank 1l, pivota'lly mounted t'on 'the upper end of bracket 64. The bell crank includes 'a further arm 78 .to the :end Iof which is fitted .a laterally directed pin 19. A vertically .disposed 'bar Bil terminates :adjacent the bracket 66 in an enlarged end :82, in which is formed slots l:83 'and 8f4. 'Slot 83, as indicated in Figures 2 and 5 of the drawings, is vertical 'and receives a pin 8B secured to the .bracket `Gli. Suitable `means .is provided to vprevent lateral displacement and disengagement of pin vtt, and this :structureserves merely as guide mea-ns for vertical .reciprocation of said bar. 'Slot 84, .as indica-ted in Figures .zand 5 is of substantial-ly the same length :as slot 183 but 'located slightly thereabove. Approximately the upper half of the length of this slot is vertical .and parallel to -slot 63.. .Midway :of its length, however, slot t4 is laterally inclined, .as indicated at' 81,. `From the inclined portion `8" the slot has va short, straight Aportion 88 that terminates iin 'a portion l89. It will be noted the portion 89 is .in the same vertical plane as the straight upper 'end of the slot. As the bar 'll-I is moved vertically upwardly fa. Adistance :governed -bythe length oi slot 83 'pin I9 follows the contour of slot 8'4 throughout its length :and in so'doing bell crank IFI .is moved from the position of .Figure r2 to that of Figure 5 and again back to' that shown in Figure 2. This :motion yof the bell crank rotates 'shaft 61 and arms 68 lrst in a clockwise and then in a counter-clockwise direction, `as viewed in Figure 4. The extent of movement of arms .5'9 is indicated by .a comparison 'fof Figures y4 'and '6.

As is more or less fdiagrammatica'lly `indicated in Rig-ure i, the bar -8I is `connected through `conventional linkage with a voting machine 'operating .lever iai.. Wit-h'the -lever 591| in the Aposi-tion shown in 4Figure 1, the bar aal `is in lthe 'position shown inniligure 2 and the voting machine is locked against use. However, when the lever llll is moved to fthe .dotted :line position, the linkage causes .bar 8i to-move upwardly and in so doing the bell crank, as `already indicated, is rotated out of and again into the position `shown in 'Figure.2.

. Having described thelstruoture of the invention, operation thereof is :as follows. For purposes of villustra-tion it is .assumed that the voting machine to which the present vinvention is applied .isy -to be used in connection with casting bal-lots for voiiice group candidates and .that there alie ten candidates up 'for lnomination .or election to ve offices. Fig-ure 8 fof the ,draw-ings indicates this, set up .and it is to 'be noted that 'ten of the straps 65! are interposed between pairs yof rollers 24, These straps, as already set out., are fcon nected with voting indicators 4of the nature shown in my Patent 1,948,660. As V'the indicators are manipulated the .straps will be moved from the position of Figure 4 to that of vFigure 6. It will be noted that the 'pointed lugs 64 .of the .straps are .of insuiiicient ysize to more .than merely contact the edge of .ilangeAiB as the kstraps are raised, but .that lthe lug 63 contacts `this flange and determines the extent of upward movement lof the straps (see Figure A6). When ve of the straps 6l .have -been raised as described, rollers 2li of the interlock .I I Wiil have .been moved laterally to eontact-and move shoe 211to the ieft, as viewed in .Figure f8. Inasmuch as-the shoe 21 is in -contact withtthe depending vstrap 52 of .the bar f44 and the bar 44 is a permanent part of the member 32, said member will be moved laterally to the left, as viewed in Figure 2, :the extent of movement being determined by pins 30 and slots 34. `Shoulder 36 and arm 31 of the member 32 now overlie lugs 38 and, since this member `is in elevated position, it cannot be lowered until again :being laterally moved. With the member 32 in this position, lugs :49 have been removed.

from directly beneath :the portions 'I-l) of arms 69.. However, rollers 72, being .of greater width than the portions TH), still -part Voverlie cams V5l) `(see Figure 8,). As has been mentioned, ione of the purposes of the invention is to prevent .a voter., who has made his selection oi :the required number of candidates in an -oiiice group `and commenced registering such selection, from .changing or retracting .any Ipart of this selection. The operating lever, vbeing in the dotted line position of Figure 1, is moved toward full line position. On the rsi; movement of the lever in this direction, bar `8l moves a -suiicient -distance to cause pin J9 to move 'into the portion `88 .of .slot 84, thus .rotating arms TI and depressing arms 6.9.. As .these arms move downwardly, ,portions 'L0 clear lugs 49 but rollers l2 contact cams V5i] and tip the .member .32 .inwardly to the extent that the edge of .llange '46 abuts the body Vof each of the voted straps 5l directly above `the Jugs .63..- The arms S9 .hold member .32 in this position only for the period represented by .the .length of the portion 83 of slot 84,. However, during this period the registering mechanism of the voting machine has acted and the ballot cannot be changed. If a voter, during the operation oi .moving the lever Sl from dotted to full lineI position, should attempt to retract one of the straps 6l, the shoulder 65 of lug 6'4 would Contact the edge of ange 46 of the member 32 and, since this member is not depressible, due to its position with respect to lugs 38, none of the actuated straps can be moved.

However, as the lever 9| is further moved toward full line position of Figure l, bar 8l moves downwardly and pin 19, following the incline 8] of slot 84, rotates bell crank l1, thus raisingkthe arms t9 to the position 'of Figure 4. The vflange 4-'6 is thus withdrawn from contact with the straps 6I and from beneath shoulders 65. Straps 6|., by a conventional mechanism. o'f the voting machine, are returned to the inoperative position shown in Figure f4. When the straps 6| are returned, the spring 143 -becomes effective to laterally return the member 32 to the position of Figure 2. Any tendency on the part of lugs 64., as they pass flange 46, to depress the member 32 is oounteracted by the Afingers '1-1 of arms 69, since these lingers, when the mem-ber 32 'has been returned by the spring 43, are in contact with the under surfaces of lugs 4i9.

The above described operation of the invention assumes lthat a voter 'has properly cast his ballot in the office group under consideration. Opera-` tion of the invention, when ya voter has improperly'cast his ballot, is as follows. It is assumed a voter has actuated only two of the ve required indicators in an oflice group. 'Thus only two straps '6| will have been raised, and since there is suilcient play between the rollers 24, these rollers will not have moved shoe Z'i. As shoe 21 normally serves to move member 32, this member `remains in the position shown in Fige ure 2. Under these circumstances, when a voter moves the operating lever 9| from dotted to full line position, the bell crank 11 will be immediately rotated to depress arms 69. Portions 1l),

-being directly over lugs 49, will, by contact therewith, move member 32 vertically downwardly and in so doing ilange 46, by reason of its contact with lugs 63, will return the straps 6| to nonvoting position. It is to be understood that the return of these straps to non-voting position is so timed during the cycleof registering a vote that the registering operation does not commence until after the straps have been returned. It will be noted that rollers 12 are not in vertical alignment with the cams 50 and, consequently, the member 32, under these circumstances of operation, is not tilted. Figure 7 of the drawings clearly indicates this movement of the parts.

Inasmuch as the mechanism of the invention functions just in advance of the registering mechanism of the voting machine, it serves to test the correctness of an office group vote and, if correct, secure the vote until registering has taken place, and if incorrect, return the iridicatorsto nonvoting position.

It will be understood that the invention has been applied to oice group voting primarily for purposes of illustration and that the structure thereof is applicable, in its present or modiiied form, to other voting requirements wherein it is necessary to maintain the parts in the position of correct balloting or to nullify any part of an incorrectly cast ballot, and that such adaptations or changes in the structure are contemplated insofar as they are within the spirit and scope of to inoperative position, straps individually connected with and operable by said members, a bar movable to engage the straps of any members moved to operated position, means operably connecting said bar with said lever in such a manner as to render said bar operable by movement of said lever to engage and restore said straps and the members connected therewith, and further means actuated by movement into operated position of a predetermined number of said straps rendering said bar eiective only to hold said straps and said members in operated position.

2. In a voting machine having members movable to an operated position and a lever operable through Vother mechanism to restore said members to unoperated position, a mechanism having straps connected with said members, means in said mechanism adjustable to eiect holding a predetermined number of said straps and said members in operated position, said means being additionally movable to restore all straps to unoperated position if less than the predetermined number have been operated and further means having connection with and being operable by said lever to both adjust and move said means.

3. In a voting machine having straps movable to an operated position and a lever operable through other mechanism to restore said straps to unoperated position, a rst means associated with said straps and operable thereby, further means associated with said straps and normally operable to restore any less than a predetermined number of operated straps to unoperated position, said first means being actuable by movement of said predetermined number of straps into operated position to render said further means inoperative to restore the operated straps to unoperated position, and additional means operable by said lever to actuate said further means to hold said predetermined number of straps in operated position during a part of the movement of the restoring operation of said lever.

4. In a voting machine having vote indicating members movable to indicating position and a lever operable through other mechanism to move said members to non-indicating position during a voting cycle, an interlock, straps operably connecting a group of said members with said interlock, means on said interlock engageable with and in a manner to secure said straps in operated position, strap actuated means for conditioning' said means for subsequent movement into engagement with said operated straps, and linkage for effecting movement of said means by said lever during part of a voting cycle.

5. In a voting machine having vote indicating members movable to indicating position and means operable to restore said members, an interlock, straps operably connecting a group of said members with said interlock, a tiltable bar on said interlock, strap actuated means to condition said bar for movement into engagement with any of said straps in operated position, and additional means providing operable connection of said bar and the member restoring means, said bar, during part of a voting cycle, being tiltable by said restoring means to engage said straps in such a manner as to secure them against operation.

6. In a voting machine having vote indicating members movable to indicating position and a lever operable to move said members to non-indicating position, straps connected with and operable individually by any of a predetermined numberV of said members, a bar movable to engage and move any of said straps and the members connected therewith from indicating to nonindicating position, strap actuated means to condition said bar for subsequent movement to engage and hold the straps against movement at one time, and an arm linked with and operable by said lever to engage said bar with and move said straps at another time.

7. In a voting machine having members movable to an operated position and a lever operable through other mechanism to restore said members, straps connected with and operable by said members, control means associated with said straps, means operable, by movement of a predetermined number of said straps into an operating position, to render said control means operable, by said lever, to momentarily engage and hold said straps in operated position, said means being operable by less than said predetermined number of straps to render said control means operative by movement of said lever to restore said operated straps to inoperative position, and means operatively connecting said control means with said lever.

8. In a voting machine having members movable to an operated position and other mechanism operable to restore said members to unoperated position; a mechanism having straps connected with said members, means carried by said mechanism operable to eiTect holding said straps in either operated or unoperated position, strap actuated means to condition said means to engage and hold said straps, said first means having nism operable to restore said members to unop erated position; a mechanism having straps operably connected with said members, strap actuable means, other means associated with said mechanism and rendered operable by said strap Vactuable means upon movement of less than a predetermined number of said members to engage all of said straps and hold them against movement relative to said other means, and further means having operable connection with said other mechanism for actuating said other means to return said operated straps and members to unoperated position.

10. In a voting machine having a group of indicators and straps coupled therewith and adapted to be moved thereby and restoring means adapted to return said straps; means actuated by said straps, a member conditioned by said strap actuated means to restore to non-indicating position any of said indicators when a number less than a predetermined number of said indicators have 'been operated, said strap actuated means, upon actuation of said predetermined number of indicators, rendering said member inoperative to restore said indicators and operative to hold said straps against movement `by the associated indicators, and means operable by said restoring means to operate upon said member to effect the restoration of a number of straps and indicators less than said predetermined number.

ALVIN N. GUSTAVSON. 

